Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-06-16
A FEARFUL CRASH
HIGHT MEN MORE OR LESS SERIOUS.
Ly IEJuaEp.
Fall ef o Roof workmen and Timbsrs
Thrown . Distance OF
Twenty Feet.
tcorespOndoncc Of tho Richmond Dispatch


PETERSBURG, Va june ID, 1887.
fearful accident occurred to-day about
haif.past 10 O'Clock az the plant OF the Brush
Ekctric. Light Company, on the south ban K
Of the Appomatiox river, near Willilms'S
mill, In thls city, resulting in injuries more
or less serious to eight white men, who
were engaged at work on the building.
The people living IN the neighborbood were
stsrtied az that hour by the noise OF a loud
crash, which was beard for some distance
away, and IN a short tine curiosity aud Ia.
tersst attracted a large crowd 20 the spot.
The cause q tie crash was the falling IN OF
tho northern roof Of the new building In
course OF erection bv the Brush Electric
Company from whence The CITY Is 10 Do
hphieG by electie ity. Eight men were al
work upon tbs portion 81 the bLildioc at
the time, and they were all prccipi.
fated 10 The greund--s1mc beng clugnt
beneath and some falling upon the tim
tiers. The injuries OF two OF the number
ale OF such a nature a., 1t i feared, MI,
prove fatal, while the injuries OF all were
very painful. IL is considered almoSt
miracle, in view OF The distance at the fall
and the nature ~ the accident, that some
Of The men were not killed outright. The
following Is lit oi tee injured and The
naluTc Of their injuries. All the partic'
are white sud al OF them citizens OF Pc
teIsbLTg
JANIS RIYANT-Badly hurt about the spine,
with internal injuries. Physicians fear that he
cannot recover. NJ. Bryant il an elderly and
respected citizen and has large family.
X. II. MOoDY-tead badly cuL. body bruised,
md left leg spIaincd at the Knee. Ills injuries,
ID Is feared, Will result fatally
These two men were caught benesth the fall
ing timpcrS. and were taken out IN an insens-
BILE condition and carried home.
j. =. COx-Head and face badly cut and
Scared and tody bruised. Injuries painful.
II. L. BARSEs-Badly hurt about the right
hip. fosh torn. and right ankle spraned.
{. y. RANES-Paintuly hurt about The head
and body aud left wrist broken.
r. = SNITHsON-Spinc injured and body
bruised.
WILLIAM COLEMAN-Left side painfully hurt
and leg injured
homes and received promp medical attention.
Most Of them mon Of families
STATEMENT OF THE FOREMAN.
Mr.. J. {. RoWdl. the foreman OF the
bmldnc. who was at the time OF the acct
d,rt stlrdirc On that portion OF the build
inc Witch did not fall. gives the following
statement:
The building Is n thrce-siOry wooden
structure. about eco feet long ny % feet
Niut ara iNU l(tl III iCiE0i. l-t~t H'Eui
we put some heavy timber on the last door
OF The building 10 he used ne iDis'- for the
support OF The roof. This morning ! sent
the woIku en Up TO move Tins extra weight
from the floor on which it had been nllrcd.
They adjust succeeds d IN doing This when
j heard something like the report OF a pi>-
to-sLOt. followed Immediately ~ loud
crash. saw MN and timers living down
10 the flooring helOw, a distance OF over
twenty feet. / Fastened down, and there
found that some Of the men were caught
underneath the timbOs, while Others were
lying on top Of the fallen TsfierS. Every
thing vas al once done for their relief and
removal.
CAUSE OF TIE ACCIDENT.
Mr.. HCMen attributes the cause OF the
accident 10 tic defective lumber. He SI'>
that tie contractor had nothing TO do win
the purchase 81 the lumber, his business
heipr only TO 80 The c1rueutcrinG work.
TIE lumhcr VS. bought direct by the
Electric IT,, II Company.
The Gccid,Lt NV cause some dehy in
fulGiin" the contract Tor lighting tue city,
The GATE therefor DcIDt liked early IN July. |
The breaking Of ere Of the iOi,tS caused |
The fall Of The building.
Nr. {. L. Eiucs tmtn'ioncd ahOvc) mar |
IOr'y escaped d'alb, ju>t missing beng |
crushed under ieavy piece OF timber.